Mounting for radiators



Feb. 4, 1941.

C. T. PERKINS MOUNTING FOR RADIATORS Filed April :23, 1938 Q s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizvezzfz" CZczrZea ZZDGTA Z725 Feb. 4, 1941.

C. T. PERKINS MOUNTING FOR RADIATORS Filed April 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll lllllll IL Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES MOUNTING FOR RADIATORS Charles T. Perkins, Racine, Wis., assignor to M0- dine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 23, 1938, Serial No. 203,843

19 Claims.

This invention relates to radiator mountings and particularly to a novel construction and arrangement for mounting the radiators of motor vehicles and the like.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to secure the side frames of radiators rigidly to a supporting member at widely spaced points on opposite sides of the radiator, and by reason of such spaced rigid connections of the radiator to its support, any movement of the supporting member with respect to its base and the radiator caused numerous tortional stresses and strains to be exerted inyarious portions of the radiator structure, frequently resulting in leaks and other equally undesirable conditions.

One object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement wherein a radiator may be effectually and suitably mounted on, and secured to its support in a manner to permit relative movement of the radiator with respect to its support, thereby relieving the radiator from damaging stresses and strains resulting from the manner and character of mounting heretofore employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement whereby the radiator and parts thereof are secured against unrestricted movement in certain directions with respect to its supporting member, while permitting relative movement of the radiator and its support in other directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for mounting a radiator on its supporting member in spaced relation thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means formed integrally with a portion of a radiator structure for mounting the radiator on its supporting member and for spacing other portions of the radiator with respect to the support.

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the. appended claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a radiator structure and support therefor embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan sectional view having the central portion thereof broken away to facilitate the showing of the structure on a larger scale, the view being taken substantially as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational View through a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicatedby the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic front elevational view on a reduced scale illustrating a condition of the radiator and its support, the undesirable effects of which are intended to be overcome by the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferable form of filler material or strip employed in the construction and arrangement of the present invention.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the present invention is shown in its relation to a radiator sup-porting member indicated, as a. whole, by the numeral II and comprising an inverted U-shaped frame member formed, preferably, of channel iron construction and secured adjacent its lower end portion by means of bolts I2 to a frame member I3 forming a part of an automobile chassis or the like, the upper end portion of the supporting member II being retained in position fore and aft by means of a brace or tie rod I4 as is common practice in motor vehicle construction.

It is also common practice to mount on the supporting member I I various devices such as the grill I5, as well as headlights, fenders and other adjacent portions of the motor vehicle structure, all of which, by reason of the added weight, tend under various conditions of operation of the vehicle, to cause a canting or shifting effect of the supporting member II in the manner illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 5.

Mounted also on the supporting member II is a fluid radiator indicated, as a whole, by the numeral I6 for cooling the fluid employed in the cooling of the engine, which comprises heat exchange tubes and fins indicated at H, the tubes being connected adjacent their upper and lower end portions with headers I8 and I9, respectively, the headers being connected by means of flanged side frames indicated, as a whole, by the numeral 2| positioned at the respective side portions of the radiator structure, by means of which the radiator I6 is intended to be mounted on the supporting member I I.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to secure the side frames rigidly to the supporting member at widely spaced points adjacent the upper, central and lower end portions of the side frames, thereby causing a cramping, binding or crushing action on the radiator structure in the event of shifting or canting of the supporting member I I, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

To overcome this undesirable condition, the radiator I6 of the present invention is supported by and secured to the supporting member II adjacent the central horizontal portion only of the side frame members 2|, and in the present instance, these side frame members are provided, preferably, with offset portions 22 intermediate their ends and, preferably, adjacent and central horizontal portion thereof, thereby providing spacing means by reason of which the upper and lower end portions 23 and 24 of the side frames 2| at the upper and lower sides of the offset portions 22 are suitably spaced from the supporting member II, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, each of the portions 22 being provided, preferably, with a reinforcing plate 25 suitably secured to the side frame 2|, as, for example, by spot-welding indicated at 26 or by other suitable means.

For securing the offset portions 22 of the side frames 2| to the supporting member II, the respective vertical side portions of the supporting member are provided, respectively, in the present instance, with a plurality of relatively closely spaced apertures 21, and the offset portions 22 of the side frame members 2| and the reinforcing plate 25 are provided, preferably, with enlarged or elongated apertures 28 adapted to register with the apertures 21 of the supporting member II and provided with bolts 29 extending therethrough for supporting the radiator I6 in proper position with respect to the supporting member II.

For retaining the radiator against unrestricted movement fore and aft with respect to the supporting member I I, a plurality of filler strips indicated, as a whole, by the numeral 3I are secured by suitable means, as by rivets 32, to the upper and lower spaced portions 23 and 24, respectively, of the side frame members 2I, the filler strips 3I being formed, preferably, of a compressible fabric material such, for example, as well-known hood-lacing, provided, preferably, adjacent its longitudinal edge portions with ribs 33, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, the total thickness of the filler strips 3| being such that when the bolts 29 are employed to secure the offset portions 22 of the side frames with respect to the supporting member II, the filler strips 3| will be compressed and drawn snugly into frictional engagement or contact with the adjacent side or face of the supporting member I I, thereby securing the radiator I6 against unrestricted movement with respect to the supporting member II.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that by reason of the novel construction and arrangement characterizing the present invention, the radiator I6 is secured adjacent its central horizontal portion only to the supporting member II, and that by reason of the enlarged or elongated apertures formed, preferably, in the offset portions 22 and reinforcing plates 25, and also by reason of the frictional engagement of the filler strips 3I with the adjacent portions of the supporting member II, any canting, swaying or distortion of the supporting member II, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, from its normal full-line position will result merely in either a slight relative bodily movement of the radiator structure I6 with respect to the supporting member II, or-slight shifting of the radiator bodily, as indicated by the dot and dash line of Fig. 5, thereby relieving the radiator structure from tortional stresses and strains and protecting the radiator structure against damage resulting in leaks or other equally undesirable conditions, it being understood, that although the offset portions 22 of the side frames 2| are firmly secured to the supporting member I I, the radiator structure as a whole may have a slight'relative movement with respect to its supporting member, such movement being permitted by reason of the enlarged or elongated apertures 28 formed, preferably, in the offset portions 22 and reinforcing members 25, and the manner of mounting the radiator on its support.

It will be observed also that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement for suitably spacing a portion of the radiator with respect to its support, and wherein novel means are provided for securing a radiator against unrestricted movement in certain directions with respect thereto, while permitting relative movement of the radiator in other directions with respect to its support.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator, and rigid means at opposite sides thereof and adjacent the central portion only of said sides for securing the radiator frictionally to said supporting member in a manner to permit relative movement of the radiator and supporting member when said means are in operative position.

2. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator, and a plurality of bolts extending transversely to the central plane of the radiator at the respective opposite sides thereof and adjacent the central horizontal portion only of said sides for securing the radiator frictionally to said supporting member.

3. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator, means at opposite sides thereof and adjacent the central horizontal portion only of said sides for securing the radiator frictionally to said supporting member, and compressible means positioned between the radiator and supporting member remote from the securing means for restraining the radiator against unrestricted movement with respect to the supporting member while permitting relative movement of the radiator and said member.

4. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator, means at opposite sides thereof and adjacent the central horizontal portion only of said sides for securing the radiator to said supporting member, and means positioned between the radiator and sup-- porting member at opposite sides of the securing means for restraining the radiator against unrestricted movement in one direction with respect to the supporting member while permitting relative movement of the radiator and said member in other directions.

5. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames, means adjacent the central horizontal portion of said frames for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, securing means adjacent said spacing means and operatively related to said side frames and supporting member for securing the radiator thereto, and a filler between adjacent portions of said supporting member and radiator.

6. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames, means adjacent the central horizontal portion of said frames for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, securing means adjacent said spacing means and operatively related to said side frames and supporting member for securing the radiator thereto, and a plurality of filler strips between adjacent spaced portions of said supporting member and radiator.

'7. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having op-. positely disposed side frames, means adjacent the central horizontal portion of said frames for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, securing means adjacent said spacing means and operatively related to said side frames and supporting member for securing the radiator thereto, and a plurality of compressible filler strips between adjacent spaced portions of said supporting member and the side frames of said radiator.

, 8. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frame members mounted thereon, means adjacent the central horizontal portion of said frame members for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, securing means adjacent said spacing means and operatively related to said side frames and supporting member for securing the radiator thereto, and a plurality of filler strips secured to certain of said members and positioned between adjacent spaced portions of said supporting member and the side frame members of said radiator.

9. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frame members mounted thereon, means adjacent the central horizontal portion of said frame members for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, said frame and supporting members having apertures formed therein adjacent said spacing means, certain of said apertures being enlarged, securing means positioned in said apertures and operatively related to said frame members and supporting member for securing the radiator thereto, and a plurality of filler strips secured to certain of said members and positioned between adjacent spaced portions of said supporting member and the side frame members of said radiator.

10. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frame members mounted thereon, means adjacent the central horizontal portion of said frame members for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, said frame and supporting members having apertures formed therein, certain of said apertures adjacent said spacing means being elongated, securing means positioned in said elongated apertures and operatively related to said frame members and supporting member for securing the radiator thereto, and a plurality of compressible filler strips secured to certain of said members and positioned between adjacent spaced portions of said supporting member and the side frame members of said radiator.

11. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames mounted thereon, oflset portions formed in said side frames adjacent the central horizontal portions thereof for spacing other portions of said frames from said supporting member, filler strips between adjacent spaced portions of said supporting member and side frames, and securing means operatively related to the offset portions of said frames and said supporting member for compressing said filler strips between said side frames and said supporting member.

12. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames mounted thereon, offset portions formed in said side frames adjacent the central horizontal portions thereof for spacing other portions of said frames from said supporting member, said offset portions and supporting member having registering apertures formed therein, respectively, filler strips between the spaced portions of said side frames and adjacent portions of said supporting member, and securing means of less diameter than the diameter of certain of said apertures positioned therein and operatively related to said side frames and supporting member for drawing said filler strips snugly against the adjacent portions of said sup porting member.

13. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames mounted thereon, offset portions formed in said side frames adjacent the central horizontal portions thereof for spacing other portions of said frames from said supporting member, said offset portions and supporting member having registering apertures formed in adjacent portions thereof, respectively, filler strips secured to the spaced portions of said side frames and positioned next to adjacent portions of said supporting member, and securing means of less diameter than the diameter of certain of said apertures positioned therein and operatively related to said supporting member and the offset portions of said side frames for drawing said filler strips snugly against the adjacent portions of said supporting member.

14. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member having apertures formed therein, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames mounted thereon at the respective opposite sides thereof, offset portions formed in said side frames adjacent the central horizontal portions thereof for spacing other portions of said frames at opposite sides of said offset portions from said supporting member, said offset portions having elongated apertures formed therein extending transversely to said side frames and adapted to register with the apertures formed in the supporting member, filler strips secured to the spaced portions of said side frames and positioned next to adjacent portions of said supporting member, and securing means positioned in said apertures and operatively related to said supporting member and the offset portions of said side frames for drawing said filler strips snugly against the adjacent portions of said supporting member.

15. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member having apertures formed therein, a radiator having vertically disposed side frames mounted thereon at the respective opposite sides thereof, offset portions formed in said side frames adjacent the central horizontal portions thereof for spacing other portions of said frames above and below the respective offset portions from said supporting member, said offset portions having elongated apertures formed therein extending transversely to said side frames and adapted to register with the apertures formed in the supporting member, compressible filler strips secured to the spaced portions of said side frames on the side thereof adjacent said supporting member, and securing means positioned in said apertures and operatively related to said supporting member and the offset portions of said side frames for drawing said filler strips snugly into frictional engagement with adjacent portions of said supporting member.

16. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frame members mounted therein, means operatively related to portions of said frame members for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, said frame and supporting members having apertures formed therein adjacent said spacing means, certain of said apertures being enlarged, securing means positioned in said apertures and operatively related to said frame members and supporting member for securing the radiator thereto, and a plurality of filler strips secured to certain of said members and positioned between said spaced other portions of said side frame members of the radiator and said supporting member.

17. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames mounted thereon, offset portions formed in portions of said side frames for spacing other portions thereof from said supporting member, said offset portions and supporting member having registering apertures formed therein, respectively, filler strips between said spaced other portions of said side frames and adjacent portions of said supporting memher, and securing means of less diameter than the diameter of certain of said apertures positioned therein and operatively related to said side frames and supporting member for drawing said filler strips snugly against the adjacent portions of said supporting member.

18. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a. supporting member having a substantially fiat face portion, a radiator having a face portion adjacent and substantially parallel to the face portion of said supporting member, means at opposite sides of said radiator adjacent the central horizontal portion of said sides for securing the radiator to said supporting member, and means positioned between said faces of the radiator and supporting member for restraining the radiator against unrestricted movement in one direction with respect to the supporting member while permitting relative movement of the radiator and said member in other directions.

19. In a radiator mounting and in combination, a supporting member, a radiator having oppositely disposed side frames mounted thereon, said side frames having portions offset transversely to the central plane of the radiator and in the direction of said supporting member adjacent the central horizontal portions of said side frames for spacing other portions of the side frames from said supporting member, and securing means operatively related to the offset portions of said frames and said supporting member for securing said side frames to said member.

CHARLES T. PERKINS. 

